Tennis racket having filler therein

ABSTRACT

A tennis racket includes a tubular body and a bridge member. The tubular body has a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The first and second tubular members each have a grip portion, a neck portion, and a frame portion. The interior of the tubular body is divided into a first chamber, a second chamber, and a central chamber by two partition walls disposed in the tubular body. Two fillers are disposed in the first and second chambers respectively. The bridge member is a solid structure connected with the two frame portions of the tubular body. By means of the aforesaid arrangement, the structural strength of the tennis racket is enhanced, and the shock-absorbing effect is provided by the fillers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tennis racket and more particularly, to a tennis racket, which is defined in the IPC group A63B49/00.

2. Description of the Related Art

In order to realize the lightweight of a tennis racket made of a fiber reinforced material, a head frame of the tennis racket has a hollow annular shape. The ring-shaped head frame creates a long existing problem of structural weaknesses, such that the head frame is damaged easily when the tennis racket is swung by a user. On the other hand, as far as the tennis string tension is concerned, it keeps increasing to meet requirements for players, resulting in that the head frame is more easily to be deformed by a higher string tension. This highlights a problem of insufficient strength in the conventional tennis racket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a tennis racket, which has an enhanced structural strength.

To attain the above objective, the present invention provides a tennis racket defines an imaginary central axis and comprises a tubular body and a bridge member. The tubular body has a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The first tubular member is provided with a first grip portion, a first neck portion, and a first frame portion. The first neck portion has two opposite ends thereof connected integrally with the first grip portion and the first frame portion. The second tubular member is provided with a second grip portion, a second neck portion, and a second frame portion. The second neck portion has two opposite ends thereof connected integrally with the second grip portion and the second frame portion. The first and second grip portions both extend along the central axis and are connected with each other. An end of the first frame portion located opposite to the first grip portion is connected with an end of the second frame portion located opposite to the second grip portion. The bridge member is a solid structure with two opposite ends thereof connected with the first and second frame portions. Further, the tubular body has an outer periphery wall, an inner periphery wall, a first partition wall connected between the outer periphery wall and the inner periphery wall, and a second partition wall connected between the outer periphery wall and the inner periphery wall, such that the interior of the tubular body is divided into a central chamber, a first chamber, and a second chamber. The first and second chambers are located at two opposite sides of the central chamber and each have a filler therein.

It can be understood from the above illustration that the tubular body is manufactured integrally to enhance its structural strength. Further, due to the first and second partition walls, the structure of the tubular body is reinforced to allow the first and second frame portions to bear a higher string tension.

On one hand, the first and second grip portions are spaced from each other and combined together by a connection strip in such a manner that a gap is formed between the first and second grip portions. By means of the gap, a grip sleeve can be sleeved conveniently onto the first and second grip portions.

On another hand, the connection strip is a stepped structure with a first section and a second section. The first section is closer to the first and second neck portions than the second section. Further, the first section is connected with the entire surface of the inner periphery wall of the first grip portion and the entire surface of the inner periphery wall of the second grip portion, and the second section is connected with the partial surface of the inner periphery wall of the first grip portion and the partial surface of the inner periphery wall of the second grip portion. By means of the steeped structure, the grip can be tightly attached to the first and second grip portions.

On another hand, the outer surface of the first section is flushed with the outer surfaces of the first and second neck portions.

On another hand, the inner periphery wall of the first grip portion is directly connected with the inner periphery wall of the second grip portion without using the connection strip. By this way, the grip sleeve can be also sleeved onto the first and second grip portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tennis racket of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view of the tennis racket of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tennis racket of the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the grip sleeve is removed.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, but showing the configurations of the first and second grip portions of the tennis racket of a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a tennis racket 1 of a first embodiment comprises a tubular body 10, a bridge member 20, and a grip sleeve 30. The tubular body 10 defines an imaginary central axis A, and the whole structure of the tubular body 10 is symmetrical with respect to the central axis A. Further, in the following embodiments, the term “inner” means that the location is close to the central axis A and the term “outer” means that the location is away from the central axis A.

The tubular body 10 is made from a composite material, such as fiber reinforced resin. For the fiber used in the composite material, carbon fiber, glass fiber, boron fiber or Kevlar fiber can be used. For the resin used in the composite material, thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin can be used. The tubular body 10 has a first tubular member 11 and a second tubular member 12. The first and second tubular members 11 and 12 are located at two sides of the central axis A and symmetrical with respect to the central axis A. As shown in FIG. 3, the first tubular member 11 has a first grip portion 111, a first neck portion 112, and a first frame portion 113, and the second tubular member 12 has a second grip portion 121, a second neck portion 122, and a second frame portion 123. The first neck portion 112 has two opposite ends thereof connected integrally with the first grip portion 111 and the first frame portion 113, and the second neck portion 122 has two opposite ends thereof connected integrally with the second grip portion 121 and the second frame portion 123, and an end of the first frame portion 113 located opposite to (i.e. far from) the first grip portion 111 is connected integrally with an end of the second frame portion 123 located opposite to (i.e. far from) the second grip portion 121, such that the first grip portion 111, the first neck portion 112, the first frame portion 113, the second frame portion 123, the second neck portion 122, and the grip portion 121 are hollow and connected integrally together to allow themselves to be communicated with each other. The first and second frame portions 113 and 123 each have a plurality of string-receiving grooves (not shown), such that a batting net surface (not shown) is formed by a string passing through the string-receiving grooves of the first and second frame portions 113 and 123. As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, the first and second grip portions 111 and 121 both extend along the central axis A, and the first and second grip portions 111 and 121 are spaced from each other and combined together by a connecting strip 18. The connecting strip 18 is a stepped structure with a first section 181 and a second section 182. The first section 181 is closer to the first and second neck portions 112 and 122 than the second section 182, and the external surface of the first section 181 is flushed with the external surfaces of the first and second neck portions 112 and 122. Further, the first section 181 is connected with the entire surface of an inner periphery wall B of the first grip portion 111 and the entire surface of the inner periphery wall B of the second grip portion 121, and the second section 182 is connected with the partial surface of the inner periphery wall B of the first grip portion 111 and the partial surface of the inner periphery wall B of the second grip portion 121. By this way, a gap d is formed between the first and second grip portions 111 and 121.

As shown in FIGS. 4-7, the tubular body 10 has a first partition wall 13 and a second partition wall 14 therein. The first and second partition walls 13 and 14 are connected between an outer periphery wall E and the inner periphery wall B of the tubular body 10 for dividing the interior of the tubular body 10 into a first chamber 15, a second chamber 16, and a central chamber 17. The first and second chambers 15 and 16 are located at two opposite sides of the central chamber 17. FIG. 4 shows that the first and second partition walls 13 and 14 of the second frame portion 123 are connected with the outer periphery wall E and the inner periphery wall B of the second frame portion 123. On the basis of FIG. 4, the first frame portion 113 has similar structure (mirror symmetric structure) as that of the second frame portion 123. FIG. 5 shows that the first and second partition walls 13 and 14 of the first and second neck portions 112 and 122 are connected with the outer periphery walls E and the inner periphery walls B of the first and second neck portions 112 and 122. FIGS. 6-7 show that the first and second partition walls 13 and 14 of the first and second grip portions 111 and 121 are connected with the outer periphery walls E and the inner periphery walls B of the first and second grip portions 111 and 121. The first and second partition walls 13 and 14 are arranged in a spaced manner for increasing structural strength of the tubular body 10, such that the first and second frame portions 113 and 123 can bear a high string tension without deformation, thereby dispersing ball-hitting power applied to the first and second frame portions 113 and 123, and enhancing ball-controlling performance.

Further, the first and second chambers 15 and 16 each have a filler 40 therein. The filler 40 can be made of a foam material for providing a vibration absorbing effect and structural strengthening effect. In the present embodiment, the filler 40 is made of PU; however, the filler 40 can be made of EVA for providing a vibration absorbing effect and reducing a ball striking force.

It is worth mentioning that once the tennis racket 1 drops into water accidentally or works in high-humidity environment, the water may seep in the tubular body 10. Even if the water enters the central chamber 17, it won't be absorbed by the fillers 40 disposed in the first and second chambers 15 and 16 for preventing the tennis racket 1 from gaining weight. Thus, not only the vibration absorption capability, but also the waterproof capability is provided by the tennis racket 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, the bridge member 20 is a solid structure with two opposite ends thereof connected with the first and second frame portions 113 and 123 such that a batting net surface is defined by the first frame portion 113, the second frame portion 123, and the bridge member 20.

Referring to FIG. 2, the grip sleeve 30 is used for gripping by a user. The grip sleeve 30 is hollow and provided with a plurality of ribs 31 therein. The grip sleeve 30 is sleeved onto the first and second grip portions 111 and 121 in such a way that the ribs 31 are inserted in the gap d.

Base on the spirit of the present invention, the length, thickness, and location of the first and second partition walls 13 and 14 can be provided with various kinds of design according to actual needs.

As shown in FIG. 8, a tennis racket according to the second embodiment of the present invention is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception of the first and second grip portions 111 and 121. The inner periphery wall B of the first grip portion 111 is directly connected with the inner periphery wall B of the second grip portion 121, such that there is no gap d between the first and second grip portions 111 and 121. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tennis racket defining an imaginary central axis and comprising: a tubular body having a first tubular member and a second tubular member, said first and second tubular members being connected integrally with each other and located at two sides of said central axis, said first tubular member having a first grip portion, a first frame portion, and a first neck portion having two opposite ends thereof connected integrally with said first grip portion and said first frame portion respectively, said second tubular member having a second grip portion, a second frame portion, and a second neck portion having two opposite ends thereof connected integrally with said second grip portion and said second frame portion respectively, said first and second grip portions both extending along said central axis and connected with each other, an end of said first frame portion located opposite to said first grip portion being connected with an end of said second frame portion located opposite to said second grip portion; and a bridge member having two opposite ends thereof connected with said first and second frame portions respectively; wherein said tubular body has an outer periphery wall, an inner periphery wall, a first partition wall connected between said outer periphery wall and said inner periphery wall, and a second partition wall connected between said outer periphery wall and said inner periphery wall, such that an interior of said tubular body is divided into a central chamber, a first chamber, and a second chamber; wherein said first and second chambers are located at two opposite sides of said central chamber, and two fillers are disposed in said first and second chambers respectively.
 2. The tennis racket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bridge member is a solid structure.
 3. The tennis racket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second grip portions are spaced from each other and combined together by a connecting strip in such a way that a gap is formed between said first and second grip portions.
 4. The tennis racket as claimed in claim 3, wherein said connecting strip is a stepped structure with a first section and second section; said first section is closer to said first and second neck portions than said second section; said first section is connected with an entire surface of said inner periphery wall of said first grip portion and an entire surface of said inner periphery wall of said second grip portion, and said second section is connected with a partial surface of said inner periphery wall of said first grip portion and a partial surface of said inner periphery wall of said second grip portion.
 5. The tennis racket as claimed in claim 4, wherein an outer surface of said first section is flushed with outer surfaces of said first and second neck portions.
 6. The tennis racket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner periphery wall of said first grip portion is directly connected with said inner periphery wall of said second grip portion. 